Clinical Research Directory

Acute Effects of Foot Orthoses on Muscle Mechanical Properties in Individuals With Pes Planus

This randomized controlled study will examine the acute effects of a medial arch support and a prefabricated insole on lower-limb muscle mechanical properties and pain in young adults with pes planus. Ninety participants will be allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to a medial arch support group, an insole group, or a control group. Muscle mechanical and viscoelastic properties will be assessed with MyotonPRO, and pain will be assessed with a visual analog scale.

Effect of Foot Orthoses on Kneecap Position in Adults With Flexible Flatfoot

This study will look at whether correcting a flat foot position with foot orthoses, also called shoe inserts, can change the position of the kneecap during standing. Some people with flexible flatfoot have a foot position that may affect how the lower leg and knee are aligned. This may influence the way the kneecap sits or tilts in relation to the thigh bone. Foot orthoses are often used for knee and foot problems, but it is not clear whether they directly change kneecap position when a person is standing and bearing weight. The study will include adults with flexible flatfoot. Each participant will have low-dose, three-dimensional weight-bearing cone beam CT scans while standing in different foot positions: their natural foot position, with foot orthoses, and with foot orthoses inside a neutral running shoe. Scans will be performed with the knees straight and slightly bent. The main hypothesis is that correcting a pronated flat foot position with foot orthoses will reduce sideways tilt and outward shift of the kneecap compared with the participant's natural foot position. The study will also examine whether changes in foot position are accompanied by changes in lower-limb rotation. This study does not test whether foot orthoses reduce pain. Instead, it is designed to understand the immediate mechanical effect of foot correction on kneecap position.

Medial Arch-Support Wrestling Shoes and Foot Posture Preservation in Adolescent Wrestlers

This three-year randomized controlled trial investigated whether wrestling shoes with built-in medial arch support can preserve foot arch structure in adolescent male wrestlers compared to standard wrestling shoes without arch support. A total of 88 adolescent male wrestlers (age 11 at baseline) were randomly assigned to wear either modified wrestling shoes with integrated medial arch support (intervention group, n=44) or standard commercially available wrestling shoes (control group, n=44). Foot posture was assessed annually using the Staheli Arch Index via podoscopy. Plantar pressure distribution was recorded using the Tekscan F-Scan system. The study followed participants for three years. The primary aim was to determine whether medial arch-support wrestling shoes reduce the emergence of flat foot (pes planus) compared with standard wrestling shoes during a critical period of foot development in young athletes.

Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation of Foot Muscles: Effects on Medial Longitudinal Arch Height and Foot Muscle Strength in Adults With Flat Feet

This study examines the effects of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) on foot invertor muscle strength, morphology, and the height of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) in individuals with flat feet. The rPMS will be applied non-invasively to the extrinsic and intrinsic foot muscles three times per week for twelve weeks. The experimental group will receive rPMS targeting the invertor muscles of the foot, while the control group will not receive stimulation but will follow the same measurement schedule. Assessments will be performed at baseline, after 6 weeks, and after 12 weeks of intervention. The primary outcome will be the change in the height of the MLA, evaluated using dynamic navicular drop assessment during gait. Secondary outcomes will include changes in the isometric inversion torque of the foot invertors and morphological adaptations of the tibialis posterior muscle assessed by ultrasound imaging. This study seeks to determine whether rPMS can improve the height of the MLA, foot invertor muscle strength and structural stability in adults with flat feet. The findings may contribute to developing new, non-invasive therapeutic approaches for improving foot function and preventing musculoskeletal imbalances related to flat foot deformity.

Effects of Pes Planus on Gait at Different Inclines

This study aims to investigate the effects of pes planus deformity on gait spatiotemporal parameters and pelvic kinematics during walking on different inclines. Participants will include healthy adults aged 18-35 years with flexible bilateral pes planus and normal body mass index. Pes planus severity will be evaluated using the Jack's toe-raise test and the navicular drop test. Gait parameters such as walking speed, cadence, stride length, stance and swing phase percentages, gait cycle duration, as well as pelvic tilt, obliquity, and rotation symmetry will be measured using the BTS-G wireless sensor system. Assessments will be performed on both flat and inclined treadmill conditions. The findings are expected to provide new insights into the biomechanical adaptations of pes planus during walking and contribute to the development of an individualized rehabilitation protocol.

Translation, Cross-cultural Adaptation, and Validation of the FPI-6 in Spain

The objective of this study is to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the Spanish version of the Foot Posture Index (FPI-6). This clinical tool is widely used to evaluate standing foot posture through six visual criteria. The study aims to provide Spanish-speaking clinicians and researchers with a reliable and valid instrument to assess foot posture in the Spanish population, ensuring that the psychometric properties of the original scale are preserved

Research on Physical Fitness and Flatfoot in Children

This study aims to explore the relationship between children's physical fitness and flatfoot. Specifically, it is designed to determine whether fitness levels are linked to the incidence and severity of flatfoot and to explore other possible factors, including genetics, exercise behavior, and body weight.

The Influence of Rehabilitation Program on Postural Control, Balance and Gait in Children With Flatfoot

"Idiopathic flat foot is a common condition in children and adolescents. After loading, the heel is adjusted in valgus, the medial longitudinal arch of the foot flattens, and the forefoot is positioned at abducted. Such deformation can be classified as flexible or rigid. A lowered flat foot arch is an undesirable feature. Additional factors such as e.g. abnormal body weight, may have impact on the shape of medial longitudinal arch. Increasing evidence suggests that excess weight is inextricably linked to flatfoot and postural stability. In connection with consequences, disorders of the muscles responsible for stabilizing the arches of the foot are noticed. The mobility and stability of the foot arches is controlled by the internal and external muscles of the foot, but the former are often overlooked in therapy. Short foot exercises are recommended as an improvement in foot arch parameters. The participants will take part in the research with the written consent of their parents or legal guardians. The results will be used anonymously for scientific publications."